BFP says knowledge on fire prevention, good application  lower fire cases

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

Siquijor Province, March 18 (PIA)--The local office of the Bureau of Fire Protection(BFP) here calls on all Siquijodnons to be extra cautious and take seriously theprecautionary measures they learned to avoid accidents.

Reporting that 63% percent or seven of ten fire cases in Siquijor province originated from open flames/lighted gas/unattended lighted candle,  Provincial Fire Marshall Nepumoceno Gangoy said fire prevention knowledge and their application will lower the cases of fire on the island.

He said, Siquijor  province has registered a total of 11 fire cases last year which reached an estimated damage of P877,000.  

With this data, Gangoy said people should increase their awareness on fire prevention.

He said activities lined up for the fire month celebration is geared towards  increasing the people’s awareness and advised that the preventive measures they know and apply must not only be confined in the vicinity of their homes but also share them to their neighbors.

He also reminded that precautionary measures should be applied the whole year-round and must not end as the celebration culminates.

Likewise, Municipal Fire Marshall of Siquijor town, Mario Pactol advised the public to always switch off the appliances after using, put off materials that can trigger fire and keep fire materials away from the reach of children.

The Provincial BFP  also reported to have undertaken the following activities last year:

Inspection of 1,216 establishments, corrected violation of 18 establishments, reviewed 83 building plans, processed 1,297 business permits, issued 18 notices of deficiency, issued 1,340 FSIC, conducted 40 fire drills and trained 216 fire brigades.

Other activities include hanging of streamers, conduct of earthquake and fire drills, inspection of lodging houses, school buildings and commercial establishments and government offices; orientation of fire brigade volunteers of the different barangays provincewide, municipal fire Olympics, inter-barangay first aid contests, and fire olympics simulation on fire and earthquake occurrence.

The BFP rescue team headed by the Municipal Fire Marshall of Siquijor SFO3 Mario D. Pactol had also managed a successful rescue operation to pull out six persons that were trapped inside Cantabon cave.

Establishment of  a sub-fire station at the Provincial Capitol which houses the biggest fire truck in the province was also made last  year.

For this year’s celebration, the Provincial BFP kicked off the Fire Prevention Month with a simultaneous in the three fires stations of the island. (RACalibo/PIA7-Siquijor)

 3 Siquijor SMEs up for DOST SET-UP this year,

15 have availed since start

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

Siquijor Province, March 18 (PIA) -- At least three small and medium enterprises(SMES) from this province have initially availed of the Manufacturing Productivity Extension Program (MPEX) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) this year.

Provincial Director Mario de la Peña of the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) here, said  Tating’s Creamier Ice Cream of San Juan town; Eimar’s General Merchandise for Assorted Metal Products of Siquijor town; and Basac Women’s Association for Squash Noodle processing of Larena town are the DOST’s prospects for this year’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) funding for production equipment to  help improve the SMEs productivity.

 De la Peña said a briefing on MPEX was initially given to the three SMEs last week that covers on-site evaluation to assist the three SMEs on process flow improvement and other  productivity concerns like capacity utilization, wastage levels, product design and packaging, and plant layout, among other concerns, after which a recommendation for project implementation.

“Just yesterday (March 17), consultants Engr. Dennis Kilongkilong and Engr. Gilbert Nakila also made an ocular inspection onsite to have a bird’s eye view of the working area and be able to give actual recommendation on the process flow and actual plant lay-out that would give them an idea on the material balance that will be inputted in the system,” he said.

Second and third visits it set sometime within the third quarter of this year, he also said.

MPEX  is a recognized program under Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and is duly funded by Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI).

It is intended to help increase the productivity of SMEs which covers Agro and  Food Processing, Furniture, Metal and Engineering, Aqua culture and Horticulure. 

It also provides productivity improvement measures for immediate implementation, and initiates other forms of assistance to develop these manufacturing sectors.

As of this date, de la Peña said, 15 SMES in Siquijor province have already availed of the SETUP project with a rough estimate total funding of P9 to P11 million.

The DOST- PSTC is also receiving proposals from other interested SMEs and is hopeful to offer assistance to all the SMEs depending on the quality of their proposals.

“Because of the good results of our program for SMEs here, I am inspired to assist more,” he finally said. (RACalibo/PIA-7/Siquijor)

 

Synchronized assessment, certification

for tourism set in Siquijor

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR PROVINCE, Mar 18 (PIA)—A piece of good news for Siquijor’s tourism sector.

For the first time in the province, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will conduct a free assessment and certification for Food and Beverages, Commercial Cooking, Bread and Pastry Making, and Housekeeping in three runs this year.

Fletcher Gumahad of TESDA-Siquijor said, the National Synchronized Assessment and Certification is a great help for the province as it gears towards tourism. He cited that resorts here do not have certified workers when they are considered key players in the province’s tourism promotion.

 To be conducted at the Lazi National Agricultural School (LNAS), the only accredited assessment center for the province, first run will be on March 28 to April 1 this year.

A total of 40 slots is given to the province: five slots for Food and Beverages Services National Certificate (NC) III and ten for NC II;  five each for Commercial Cooking NC III, Bread and Pastry Making NC II, Housekeeping NC III, and 10 slots for Housekeeping NC II and Events Management Services NC III and Driving NC III.

Qualified applicants are advised  to accomplish the assessment application form available at TESDA Provincial Office, Lazi, Siquijor.

The form may also be downloaded from TESDA website at www.tesda.gov.ph. (RACalibo/PIA-7/Siquijor)